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closed tabs (non restorable with CTRL+SHIFT+T)

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when there's an open private window and you close the non private window first , all the tabs are closed and when you open firefox again all tabs are cleared and just a new tab is open

this is not desired behavior I guess and i've lost all the open tabs multiple times this way because sometimes private windows remain left open in another desktop or just minimized (and you shutdown the PC or just close the Firefox and all the tabs are gone!).

is there any settings for this ? if not then this is a bug report I guess


when there's an open private window and you close the non private window first , all the tabs are closed and when you open firefox again all tabs are cleared and just a new tab is open this is not desired behavior I guess and i've lost all the open tabs multiple times this way because sometimes private windows remain left open in another desktop or just minimized (and you shutdown the PC or just close the Firefox and all the tabs are gone!). is there any settings for this ? if not then this is a bug report I guess

Chosen solution

If you want to exit Firefox, it is safest to use the menu, either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > Exit
  • (menu bar) File > Exit

That should preserve the current status of the regular (non-private) windows as "open" so they are restore automatically. Of course the private windows won't be restored.

When you close windows individually, Firefox still should retain session history for up to three closed windows, but there is a higher risk that you will end up not being able to restore that window from the Recently Closed Windows menu at either

  • "3-bar" menu button > Library > History > Recently Closed Windows
  • "Library" toolbar button > History > Recently Closed Windows
  • (menu bar) History > Recently Closed Windows
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Chosen Solution

If you want to exit Firefox, it is safest to use the menu, either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > Exit
  • (menu bar) File > Exit

That should preserve the current status of the regular (non-private) windows as "open" so they are restore automatically. Of course the private windows won't be restored.

When you close windows individually, Firefox still should retain session history for up to three closed windows, but there is a higher risk that you will end up not being able to restore that window from the Recently Closed Windows menu at either

  • "3-bar" menu button > Library > History > Recently Closed Windows
  • "Library" toolbar button > History > Recently Closed Windows
  • (menu bar) History > Recently Closed Windows
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Actually I shouldn't assume you have Firefox set to restore your previous session automatically at the next startup. You can double-check your setting on the Options page. See: Restore previous session - Configure when Firefox shows your most recent tabs and windows.